Chapter 4.18: Dear Diary, the Blushing Oath Pendant (Pt. 1)

Dear Diary, look at these two, growing by leaps and bounds! And, finally, they have hair! Rosetta’s has come in the same color as Xalen’s, in rich and thick reddish-brown waves. Holden’s hair happens to be more like mine, dirty blonde and fine. For a while, I was afraid he’d be bald for life. One time, I mentioned this to Susan who told me she thought blonde hair took longer to come in. I don’t know if that’s true for every baby, but it was true for him.

These two nuts just got done throwing food at each other and laughing hysterically. The problem is, they are so cute I can’t even discipline them. Instead, I realized the applesauce gave Holden’s hair just enough oomph to stay in a little mohawk.

Susan has expressed great concern about my laid back parenting and she is much firmer with them.

This was one of those crazy mornings where it wasn’t even dawn yet because our little monsters decided they don’t need to sleep past five a.m. Still, it’s not like I had time to sleep in or anything.

Xalen had spent the night to help care for the kids and he was the one who kept me diligent to my alarm clock. If he hadn’t been here, I might’ve just hit the snooze button a few dozen times.

“Why is Holden’s hair standing up like that?” Xalen asked as he joined us in the kitchen.

“It is a good thing you are here, Susan,” Xalen said as he glanced at Holden again.

Was I the only one who thought the mohawk was cute? My only thought about it was that the fuddy-duddies in the room needed to chill. The twins were only going to be children once and my belief was that they didn’t need to be fussed over every time they did something slightly naughty.

“Please, their little food fight isn’t even on my radar of terrible things. Talk to me when they’re doing drugs.”

Susan’s eyes grew two times their size. “They better not!”

I laughed again. “Relax, I was kidding. I agree with your ‘they better not.'”

As if on cue, Rosetta and Holden giggled. It was creepy and weird to me how sometimes they laughed the same way. Even their mannerisms were peculiarly similar… and done at the same time. It reminded me a lot of those dancing marionette shows where someone works the strings to make the puppets move together.

I guess these weird thoughts I had about the kids was a reflection of my deep down fear. Since giving birth, I’d had this growing feeling these two would grow up really fast and become so independent and alike, they wouldn’t need me anymore. They would go on with their lives and leave me in the dust.

Isn’t that kind of what I did to my parents? Minus, having a twin, that is.

“Marty?” Xalen asked, bringing me out of my daydream. I hadn’t spoken to him about my fear because I thought perhaps he’d think it was irrational and silly. Not that he’d ever made me feel that way about anything before.

“Sorry, what?”

“I asked if you wanted more coffee.”

“No thanks, my eyeballs are already starting to float,” I said.

“If you’ve got the twins now for a little bit, I’ve got a few things to do.”

“Sure, Susan,” Xalen said before she left the kitchen.

Glancing into the hallway to be certain she wasn’t listening, Xalen turned to me and said, “Did she eat anything this morning?”

I shook my head, trying to hide the worry from my face. “I haven’t seen her eat in days and I’m getting really worried. What can we do? Any ideas?”

“Maybe we should sit down with her and tell her how worried we are.”

“I don’t know about that,” I said. It sounded like the reasonable thing to do yet I couldn’t help but feel that Susan would become defensive. She’d already been confronted by her last boyfriend Victor, and then, my parents and that went horribly wrong.

“I can see why you are hesitant to do that. Perhaps we should speak to a professional in this area of expertise.”

This made more sense than anything I’d heard so far. “I’d like to do that as soon as possible. Can you go with me?”

“Of course, I will go with you. But not today as I have a meeting with the team about a new case.”

And that’s all he said. He still hadn’t pressured me one bit to join The Inheritance. If there was any reason I loved him, this was a huge one.

“Will you be going out of town?” I asked.

“Yes, I do not think we can avoid it.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

Finally, he grinned slyly at me and I realized I’d left the door wide open to talk about The Inheritance. “You could come along with me and sit in on our meeting to find out.”

This made me laugh. Then he added, “If you want to, that is.”

“You’ve been so good about not bringing this up at all.” I laughed until there were tears in my eyes. It just struck me as funny, how patient he is. I never could have gone this long without an answer. Snaking my arms around his neck and kissing him, I said, “You are a saint, you know that?”

Smiling at me and kissing me again, he said, “I would not go so far.”

“Well, I adore you and I’m going with you to your meeting.”

On the long drive to the Neptune Foundation, or base house, as the team called it, Xalen and I agreed that in order to really figure out if I belonged in The Inheritance, I should go with the team on one of their cases. What better way was there than seeing first hand what I was getting into?

I already knew I would work for the Neptune Foundation as Xalen assured me there were always relics to translate and research. So, whether I joined The Inheritance or not, I had a new great job. Bye bye, teaching.

As soon as we got to that gargantuan thing Xalen called home, I called Susan to ask her if it was okay with her if I was away for a couple days. I’m sure she’d figured out by now that I’ve been watching her eating habits, so she was only too glad to be rid of me.

Without further ado, Xalen and I went through the holographic door thingy and into the control room where everyone was already waiting. Seeing what the others were doing, I sat at the enormous conference table and opened my laptop.

I thought Xalen would be the one leading the meeting, but it was Shelly who spoke.

“So this is a photo of my friend Viv Paris.”

The photos popped up on my screen and I realized Shelly had remote access to all of ours.

“Luckily, I had my Polaroid with me and was able to get these. I had sunglasses and a hat on and she was so preoccupied, she didn’t even notice me.”

“What an unusual necklace,” Daniel said.

Leaning in to look closer at the necklace, I said, “It looks like there is writing on it, but the engravement is so small, I can’t read it.”

Xalen seemed pleased with me and smiled in my direction.

“That necklace is of great interest to us,” Xalen explained. “We believe it to be The Blushing Oath Pendant which was made for Iphoyeas who was the queen of the Aptiens centuries ago. Originally, it was a circular shape but was later fashioned into a heart. Inside the locket, it is said, is a small tress of Iphoyeas’ hair.”

“What is the significance of this?” I asked.

Shelly turned away from her laptop, her eyes meeting mine and said, “These pictures were taken three days ago.”

“Okay.”

“My friend, Viv Paris, is dead.”

“What?” I asked, thinking perhaps I’d heard her wrong. But no, this was The Inheritance we were talking about. So, nothing would be what it seemed, I was sure.

Owen tried to explain the situation to me. “Shelly went to Saltwell one year ago to attend Viv’s funeral. She drowned while scuba diving and left a husband behind. Anyway, Shelly went back to Saltwell a few days ago to pay her respects.”

“I never even got to the cemetery. I stopped at a diner for coffee and that’s when I saw her. Viv was standing right there.”

“And she was wearing that necklace,” Daniel added.

“So, we’re going to Saltwell,” I guessed.

“Yes,” Xalen said. “Owen will stay behind to try to find out where the necklace has been and who owns it now. We will go to Saltwell, speak to Viv’s husband and try to find her. We need to confirm that this photo is indeed of Viv and if that necklace is The Blushing Oath Pendant.”

After the meeting broke up, Xalen climbed the stairs to his books above. I turned to Shelly.

“What do you make of all of this?”

“Call me crazy, but I know that was Viv I saw. Whether that necklace is The Blushing Oath Pendant or not, I need to find out.”

“I can’t say I blame you. This is a very curious case. But, no one has said what the necklace has to do with you seeing Viv. I don’t really understand this.”

“Whoever wears the pendant, it is said, will raise from the dead. I’ve never seen the necklace up close and pictures of it are difficult to find, so I don’t know what exactly the inscription is. It’s considered to be bad luck to have it in one’s possession and to use the pendant’s powers is even worse.”

“Why?”

There was an excitement welling up inside me that I felt might burst out at any moment yet on top of that was a feeling of dread that sank into my stomach like a brick.

Shelly stepped closer to me, her silky brown eyes very serious. “Because what comes back is not what was once buried.”

Yikes. So, if this Viv lady was resurrected using this cursed pendant thing, she would be extra evil or something? This was a question I kept to myself. I was only along for the ride and thought perhaps I should just take a watch and see what happens approach.

Tilting my head back, I saw Xalen with a thick book under his arm. That didn’t stop him from looking for more, though. As he pulled other volumes from the shelves, he blew dust aside and very pointedly opened them to pages as if he specifically knew where to find the information he was searching for.

“This must be kind of strange to you,” Daniel said.

I jumped slightly, not realizing he was beside me. “Kind of?”

Laughing a little, he said, “I felt the same way when I joined. Anyway, just wanted to tell you we’re wheels up in thirty.”

And that, I learned, meant we were supposed to be on The Neptune Foundation’s private plane in half an hour.

When we left Alpine County, it was that icy kind of cold and dampness that alerts you to the fact it’s going to snow. Saltwell, on the other hand, was full of dampness but there were palm trees, not inclement weather.

A limo met us at the airport which dropped Daniel off in the city. Xalen had instructed him to talk to locals and see if anyone else had seen Viv Paris.

Xalen, Shelly and I soon found ourselves in the house of Eric Paris, husband to the “late” Viv. At first glance, he expressed shock that we would suggest we’d seen his wife in town.

“This is absurd!” he growled. “My poor wife has been dead for a year, she is not galavanting all over the city!”

“I am sorry to bring up something so painful,” Xalen said, his voice nonplussed. With steady hands, he pulled out the Polaroids Shelly had taken only last week. “These photos look very much like your wife.”

Barely glancing at them, he looked Xalen straight in the eye. “That is not Viv. There is no possible way that could be her. As I told you, she’s dead. Shelly, you were at the funeral. You watched as her casket was closed and she was lowered into the ground!”

“I’m sorry, Eric. I would never come here and say all of this if I didn’t believe it with all my heart. Yes, I absolutely saw her buried that day. But these are pictures I took of her just a few days ago!”

“Do you hear how crazy you sound?” he demanded, shoving the pictures back across the bar counter toward Xalen. “This is ridiculous!”

“In the photo, this woman is wearing a necklace. Did Viv own one like this?” Xalen asked.

Finally, Eric looked at the closeup photo, then slapped it back down on the counter. “No. She never would have worn anything like this. She much preferred diamonds.”

Something was drawing Xalen’s attention toward the living room.

“Do you mind if we take a look around?” he mumbled.

Eric sputtered, a vein in his temple throbbing and his face turning purple. “Yes! I mind! Leave! All of you! I have things I have to do!”

With that, we found ourselves in the driveway, waiting for the limo when Xalen’s phone rang.

“Dr. Xalen Sprague,” he said.

He talked for a few moments, his eyes becoming more and more concerned.

“What is it?” I asked as he hung up.

“That was Owen calling from the base.”

“This looks serious,” Shelly said.

Xalen nodded slightly. “Owen was able to trace the necklace to a necromancer who died a few months ago. After the auctioning off of all his belongings, it was discovered, by his son, that the necklace was missing. It either got lost in the things that were auctioned or someone knew he had it and in the confusion of it all, they stole it.”

“I knew it!” Shelly said.

Looking at her somberly, Xalen said, “Let’s find Daniel and see if he has found anything out.”

“So, I was able to confirm everything Eric Paris said about his wife. She died while scuba diving and her death certificate is on file, there was an obituary in the local paper. Oh, and the Undertaker at the funeral home assured me she is quite dead.”

“That is what we expected to find,” Xalen said. “Did you speak to the locals?”

Daniel nodded. “No one has seen her but I get the feeling they don’t like outsiders asking questions.”

Shelly was standing apart from us, her arms at her sides, her palms facing forward. I watched as she closed her eyes and became very still. I’d seen her do this at every place we stopped so far.

“What’s she doing?”

Daniel glanced at her for a moment, then said, “She’s trying to see if she can pick up on anything psychically.”

“Oh,” I said as if that was the most normal thing in the world to hear.

“All right. Daniel and I are going to visit Viv Paris’ mother. I do not want Shelly to go because Viv’s mother would know her.”

“What should Shelly and I do?” I asked.

“Are you afraid of cemeteries?”

I laughed. “Uh, no.”

“You two go to the cemetery and get a few photos of Viv’s grave. Snoop around, listen for gossip if there is anyone else there. That sort of thing.”

“Okay,” I shrugged.

Once Shelly and I got to the cemetery, however, a thick fog rolled in. It was one of those creepy gothic places you’d expect to find in a horror movie complete with vampires.

“This is so creepy.”

Instead of laughing at me like I thought she would, Shelly shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. “I agree.”

It took some time to find the right gravesite. Apparently, the Paris family went back several generations in this town.

“Found it!” Shelly announced.

I was all too glad to join her even though I was only a few feet away wiping dirt from another tombstone.

“Well, that’s unexpected,” I said.

Because instead of a normal grave, we found a gaping hole with a pil of dirt next to it as if someone had shoveled it all away.

“The coffin isn’t even here,” Shelly observed.

“Do you think someone stole her corpse?” I asked. “I mean, you are sure she definitely died, so it would seem someone dug her up.”

“Yeah,” Shelly said. “Someone dug her up and put a certain cursed pendant around her neck!”

0 comment

Wow, Kym. Your imagination is incredible! You always manage to surprise with all of your complicated and gripping plots. This chapter was delightfully long and I loved it, but at the same time it wasn’t long enough, because what the heck, I need the answers, oh my!
Rosetta and Holden are the cutest little ones and I understand how Marty feels the need to spoil them to the core, but it isn’t good for them, so they are lucky to have reasonable Xalen and Susan around.
I am so worried about Susan. She gained weight again and she refuses to eat. I wonder what’s bugging her and causing her to act like that. I understand Marty’s and Xalen’s concerns. She needs to face it, whatever kind of eating disorder it is. And they should go with her to the doctor and support her. I also couldn’t help but notice…is that a heart pendant? Oh my…now I am really afraid of those!
So Viv was definitely dead, but it appears she was resurrected and someone dug her corpse out of her grave. I wonder who would need her alive. It sounds like a plotline taken straight from some really creepy thriller. I can’t wait to see what you will do about this case and to find out who had hand in Viv’s resurrecting.
And what exactly does it mean that “what comes back is not what was once buried”?! Zombies? That was definitely hair-raising and enough to creep me out! Oh my, oh my…So THIS is the type of cases what The Inheritance is doing. I have to say I’m on pins and needles because of all of this. What will Marty and Xalen get themselves into?! You have managed to keep me on the edge of my seat again!

Wow….I had chills along with Marty! She will join. After this, there is no way she won’t. And I want her to so we can see first hand how this goes! 😂

I just want to throw out there that I think those babies are Xalen’s. They are adorable. ❤️ I love Marty’s laid back style of parenting. Don’t sweat the small stuff! But she does have to be ready to discipline when needed. No doubt Susan will do that for her. I am glad she feels comfortable leaving the kids with her sister.

Speaking of Susan, I am very worried about her. Her eating or not eating is certainly a concern. I can’t wait to see what the professional says.

Marty really is silly if she thinks for one minute she won’t join the Foundation 😛 Like, yeah, sure, Marty, you’re going to just live in your little house with your babies and translate some artifacts. Not 😀 I like this a lot – yay for mysteries!
And on another note I like the little hints that Marty might not be the best mother in the world. It’s not something she particularly wanted after all, and if she ends up joining the supernatural shenanigans – well, something tells me she won’t be the most attentive parent.
Oh yay, more, more, more please 🙂

Thank you so much, Louise! 😀 I love that! You’re probably right about Marty and whether she will join or not. I think she mainly wants to see what happens here, but how could she resist?

You’re right about Marty as a mother, I think. Motherhood wasn’t something she ever aspired to, so this is not something that is coming naturally for her like it did for Blue. Being a mother and having a large family to love her was all Blue ever wanted.

To be sure, it’s good for her to think it over before she jumps into anything, but this is all she ever wanted. Actually, what a delightful way you connect your founders’ stories. Blue wanted stability and a big family, while Marty’s had enough of that and wants adventure. Beautiful 🙂
I meant to ask, though – in your to be continued pic you’re saying the next one will be out on the 20th – did you, perchance, mean the 27th or is it me that’s off? 🙂

Thank you so much for noticing the little ways the stories are connected. The reason Blue wanted that huge family was because she was so lonely as a child. Well, she was a real pill when she finally got a mom and sister, but you know what I mean. LOL

WOW cray cray .. LOVE it. BTW I was rolling when Marty was worrying over the twins and hope they did not do to her what she did to her parents .. lol the mother’s curse works (hope you have a kid one day and they turn out just like you)

This is such an intriguing case! I love reading about these kind of mysteries 🙂
Rosetta and Holden are simply adorable, and it was nice to see Marty loosen up and have fun. It was refreshing to read about a mother who might not be a ‘natural’ but still clearly loves her kids!
Susan’s dilemma is a difficult one. I agree with Marty in that if they talk to her, she will probably just clam up. But how will they help her? Hmm….
Awesome chapter <3

Thank you so much, Lila! <3 I'm so glad you like the case so far. I like these kinds of mysteries, too, but it's the first one like this I've written. You've got Marty down pat – she loves her kids but doesn't really find this motherhood thing second nature. lol

That's a good question about Susan. Hopefully, she will find her family supportive and admit she needs help.

Oh my..! This story is getting more and more enjoyable as chapters go by! I love where you seem to be taking this – evil zombie-lady, possibly controlled by someone even more evil? Yes please!! 😀 I can’t wait to find out where this is going!
On another note, the twins are so freakin’ cute! <3 And the way you described they did almost everything in synch… adorable!! <3 <3

This was a great chapter, and a wonderful intro to a real mystery!! I guess Marty isn’t really “mother” material, but Susan can fill in where Marty fall short! As their mother, her precociousness has certainly been passed on! Lisabeesims is correct – the mother curse is real! I always told my son that, and both of his boys have helped make it real!! =D I hope they can find a way to help Susan, or find a way, rather, to make Susan want help! Can’t wait until next Saturday! ♥

Thank you so much, Marj! I’m really glad you liked it! It’s a good thing Susan is there! lol And, oh, yes, the mother curse is very real! haha After next week’s chapter, we will be focusing on Susan <3

Awww Thank you so much, Jes2G! That’s so kind of you to say. I sure hope the twins don’t grow up all out of control – I guess it’s a good thing they have Xalen and Susan! hahaha Oh, yes! I think Eric is cute, too!

Ooh, I love a good mystery. I have no doubt that we will figure out what is happening with Viv now that Marty is on the case!!
And PS- I loved the use of applesauce as hair gel. That Mohawk was too cute!!

Now we have crazy gravediggers!? Someone stole this necklace and put it on Viv’s corpse to bring her back! So many questions. Who is Viv Paris? Why her? Is her family important since they literally take up a good chunk of that cemetery? Who did it? Why did they do it! UGH, I need part two!! XD

Oh wow, what a cool mystery! This pendant doesn’t seem like a good thing to be wandering around public with… Why revive Viv though? And who did it? Also, the twins are super cute!! I wonder how Marty’s lax parenting will affect them as they get older… Will they want to continue her and Xalen’s line of work? And also, poor Susan, I hope she’s doing alright 🙁

I love this! Well, not because someone revived a dead person against their will, but because this is getting intense! This is a side of the world Marty had no idea even existed until the whole Egyptian ghost situation, and now she’s deep into it all.
Looks like she’s getting that adventure she has always wanted!

Thank you so much, Violincat! 🙂 I’m really glad you love the way this is going. Marty is in it deep, that’s for sure. Will this fill her craving for adventure or will it be too much for her? Luckily, we’ll find out next week. 😀

I didn’t pay enough attention to Marty traits before.
Is she absent minded ?
At least, that was my impression, while reading her description about handling the tods.
There’s always such a bewildered look on her face.☺
The tods are supercute of course.
Having a subject to investigate on, Marty seemed to be a lot more concentrated.
My respect to your ability to build up a mystery. Very exciting turn.
I enjoyed your anniversary bonus too.
My apologizes for not commenting so much, my faulty english is to blame.
Because if I comment,
I want to say something thoughtful, so that you can see I follow with interest in your storyline. 😉

Thank you so much! 🙂 Marty’s traits are: Ambitious, Brave, Rebellious, Disciplined, Athletic. That’s a good question, though, about whether one is absent minded because in game, you would really think that’s one of her traits. haha I agree about the bewildered look she always has on her face. LOL

I’m so glad you find the case to be exciting! I think this sort of thing will be fun to write.

You don’t have to apologize. 🙂 I appreciate all you do and I think your English is superb. 🙂

Your story continues doing what it does best … capturing our attention/imagination and not letting go! I love reading mysteries and seeing one unfold here within your chapters is quite fun. Marty may not be “mothering”, but it’s obvious that she loves her children. Hopefully the family’s concerns regarding Susan will be resolved in a positive manner, without alienating her further from those who love and care about her.

Thank you so much, Addy. 🙂 You are so kind to say such nice things about my writing. <3 I love mysteries, too, and think this will be a lot of fun to write.

I agree with what you say about Marty and motherhood. She really does love the children but this isn't exactly second nature for her.

I think this issue with Susan will be difficult but she has such a good family surrounding her. We won't be focusing on her in this upcoming chapter, but she will be a large part of the chapter after this one.

While I was reading I realized that twins seem to run in the family. I should’ve noticed that earlier but I’m just realizing this now. I really like Marty’s parenting style, it reminds me of Leo. I feel so many similarities between the two, I’m just hoping that if Marty does end up joining the Inheritance (which I have a feeling she will), that her children don’t end up feeling like how Blue did. With the Inheritance though, do they seek out cases or do people bring cases to them or do they just happen to stumble upon them while they’re living their everyday lives?

Thank you so much! 🙂 Oh my goodness, do twins ever run through this family. I’m really, really hoping that will dwindle out. hahaha 😛

That’s a good point about the twins possibly feeling like Blue did about being so lonely because of her parent’s career. I think that could happen.

That’s a good question about The Inheritance. I think it’s all of the above. LOL They seek out cases because of relics they may be interested in and they stumble upon some of them. As far as people seeking them out, they’re a secret society, but I do think this could happen, too, since people may bring them strange antiquities. 🙂

Wow I’m very intrigued by this mystery. I understand why the husband would turn them away, because he may still be mourning his wife and in that case this would be very painful for him. But with no other leads yet I wonder if he is involved.

Finding the empty grave is so creepy. It’s strange that no one in the town noticed, or if they did it was ignored.

*In the background, zombie by the cranberries plays* I looove urban fantasies and supernatural mysteries so I’m really curious about where this is going, plus I hope that she decides to stay with the group so there are more of these. Her very own scooby gang! Minus the great date xD
If the husband isn’t in on it (and I assume he’s not), I would be as mad as him for such questions and assumptions! I can’t blame him for kicking them out. it’s digging up the past (pun totally intended).

I love Zombie and I’m so, so sad that Delores O’Riordan died. :'( The Scooby gang lives! LOL That’s so true! haha I honestly didn’t think about that until you said it, but how fun! 😀 I love supernatural mysteries, too.

LOL @ your pun. 😀 I would be angry if I were him, too. I think Xalen probably thought they’d be kicked out, but they had to ask the questions. I hope you like how the case ends. 🙂

About the Author

Hi, my name is Kymber but you may know me by my pseudonym, Rosemary Castevet. I’m an author, simmer, Registered Nurse, Judy Garland devotee, and horror buff. Did I mention I’m currently owned by Cesare the cat? On top of all of that, I’m a redheaded INFJ who is also a vegan. I’m glad you’re here! Grab a comfy chair and settle in for a fun read.